Roofing structure



Oct. 5, 1965 E. J. KOE

ROOFING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 6, 1960 AME/V702 E'M/L J. Koe

by ym, h ame, w-mu awe/Cmml ArmeA/vs.

United States Patent 3,209,499 ROOFING STRUCTURE Emil J. Koe, 617 S. Lincoln Ave., Park Ridge, Ill. Continuation of application Ser. No. 20,352, Apr. 6, 1960. This application Aug. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 303,498 3 Claims. (Cl. 5294) This is a continuation of my prior copending application Serial No. 20,352, filed April 6, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to roofing construction and, more particularly, to a roofing construction adapted to be laid on a roof structure of the pitched type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved, roofing construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved roofing construction that is adapted to collect and direct water to spaced apart points along the lower edge of a pitched roof, thereby avoiding the use of gutters and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a roof construction that is configured to direct substantially all of the water falling on the roof construction into spaced apart vertically extending drain spouts, thereby eliminating entirely or substantially reducing the gutter structure extending around the entire lower edge of the roof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reversible roofing material that is used in the right side up and upside down fashion to a produce a unique drainage pattern for guiding and directing water to selected points along the edge of a roof.

It is a further object, in accordance with the previous object, to provide the above described roofing material in strip form.

It is yet a further object, in accordance with the second previous object, to provide roofing material that possesses overlapping properties comprising a part of the drainage pattern.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a roofing construction that is readily manufactured from any one of a plurality of materials and can be conveniently shipped, stored, and assembled to a roof structure.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a house and roof structure on which is secured a roofing construction embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the roofing construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one embodiment of the roofing construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG. 4 illustrating water collected by the roofing construction;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan View of a second embodiment of the roofing construction in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a third embodiment of the roofing construction of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8a. 8b, 8c, 8d and 8e are cross-sectional views, respectively of other possible embodiments of the roofing construction;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the peak of the roofing construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the roofing construction of FIG. 1 used with an integrated gutter and corner drain spout arrangement.

The above and other objects of the present invention are realized by providing a new and improved roofing construction that overlies and is fixedly secured to a peaked roof structure. The roofing construction comprises a reversible material, made preferably in either strip or shingle form, adapted to be used in both right side up and upside down fashion to form a predetermined drainage pattern for water falling on the roof construction. The drainage pattern is obtained by defining in the reversible material a complementary ridge and trough arrangement which, in conjunction with gravity, directs the water to spaced-apart points along the lower edge of the roof structure. Accordingly, the need for drainage devices, gutters, and the like along the entire lower edge of the roof structure is eliminated or substantially reduced.

In the preferred forms of the roofing construction, the construction material is made from thin, corrugated sheet metal, preferably aluminum and the like, and is easily and quickly secured to the roof structure. In both the strip and shingle form of the invention, provision is made for overlapping the strips and shingles to assure drainage according to the predetermined drainage pattern and to prevent passage of Water or the like through the roof construction into the roof structure. It will be appreci ated that because of the reversible quality of the roofing construction, only one type of ridge and trough arrangement is needed, whereby manufacture, storage, shipment, and assembly is greatly simplified.

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a conventional ranch type home 20 having suitable wall structure 22 for supporting a roof structure 23. The roof structure is illustrated as being generally L shaped, as seen in FIG. 2, and includes a gable-roof section at its right end (as seen in FIG. 2) and a hip-roof section at its opposite end, the ends being joined in a valley-type section. It will be understood that the L shaped roof structure is merely illustrative and that the present invention is equally applicable to roof structure having other shapes.

The roof structure 23 is not clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 since it is entirely covered by a roofing construction 24 embodying the principles of the present invention. The roofing construction 24 specifically overlies and is fixedly secured, by any conventional fastening means, to the roof structure 23 and, accordingly, has an L shape. In accordance with the present invention, water and the like falling on the roof construction 24 is directed to spaced-apart points along a lower edge 26 of the roof structure-23; in contrast to the normal flat peaked roof which directs the water straight down into gutters extending along its lower edge. Hence, with the roofing construction 24, the need for auxiliary drainage devices, for example, gutters, and the like located at the lower edge of the roof structure 23, is either entirely obviated or is substantially reduced.

Considering now FIG. 2. in greater detail, the roofing construction 24 can be considered as comprising a plurality of roof sections 30 located entirely on a peaked side of the roof structure 23. Each roof section 30 functions to direct substantially all of the water falling on it to one point at the lower edge 26 of the roof structure 23. For example, the roof section 30a is defined by a peak 32, an edge 38 of the gable-roof section, the lower edge 26, and the corner edge 36 and directs all water falling on it to a down spout arrangement 50a. The roof section 30b is defined by the peak 32, an edge 38 of the gableroof section, the lower edge 26, and a valley edge 40,

and directs all water falling on it to a down spout arrangement 50b. The roof section 300 is defined by the peak 42, a corner edge 44, the lower edge 26, and the corner edge 36, and directs all water falling on it to a down spout arrangement 50c. The section 30d is defined by the peak 42, the valley edge 40, the lower edge 26 and a corner edge 46, and directs all water falling on it to a down spout arrangement 50d. The triangular roof section 30e is defined by the corner edge 44, a hip corner edge 46 and the lower edge 26, and directs the water falling on it to a down spout arrangement 502. As shown in FIG. 2, the sections, 30a, b, c, d and e are divided approximately in half along vertically extending center lines 48. Assuming that the roofing construction material is reversible, in one half of each section 30 it is laid right side up and in the other half of each section 30 it is laid upside down. If the construction material is not reversible. left-hand and right-hand construction material is placed on the respective halves of each section 30, with the result that the water falling on each section 30 is directed toward its center line 48 and into its associated down spout 50. The down spouts 50, in turn conduct the collected water from the roofing construction 24 to the ground lever, as seen in FIG. 1. In this construction, and as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of each drain spout 50 comprises an elongated generally rectangular water collecting section which extends in opposite directions along the lower edge 26 away from a vertical, generally square cross sectional body of the drain spout 50.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a preferred form of the roofing construction 24 is illustrated and comprises a plurality of thin strips 52 made from suitable roofing material; in a preferred form the strips are suitably fabricated from aluminum. The strips 52 are each identical in construction and are corrugated by suitable forming operations to provide a generally inclined valley and ridge construction. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, each strip 52 comprises a plurality of alternate valleys 54 and ridges 56. More particularly, there is provided generally upstanding or upwardly directed portions 58 which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strip 52. The upper end of each upstanding portion 58 is interconnected to the lower end of the right adjacent portion 58 by a continuously downwardly, inclined reversely extending portion 60. Accordingly, the upstanding portions 58 and the inclined portions 60 coact to define both the valleys or troughs 54 and the ridges 56. It will be noted that the valleys and ridges 54-56 are formed in each strip and are at an angle less than 45, and preferably at an angle of approximately 30, to the long dimension of the strip 52. Thus, when the strips 52 are fastened to the roof support as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the valleys and ridges 54-56 of the strips will be disposed at an angle less than 45 to the lower or bottom edge 26 of the sloping roof. This angular relationship of the valleys and ridges 5456 to the lower or bottom edge 26 of the sloping roof together with the upstanding and inclined portions 58, 60 of each trough provide a series of water collecting troughs of substantial capacity to readily receive and carry water to a designated point at the lower or bottom edge 26 of the roof toward which the angularly disposed valleys and ridges are directed.

When it is desired to cause the water to drain toward the left, for example, towards a drain spout 50, the strips 52 are fixedly secured to the roof structure 23 as shown in FIG. 3. It should be appreciated that the strips 52 on the right half of the section 30b of the roof construction 24 are laid in exactly the same manner. As a matter of convenience, it may be assumed that the strips in the right half of the roof section 30b (as shown in FIG. 3) are laid right side up; in this position the upstanding portions 58 face upwardly as shown in FIG. 4 and the inclined portions 60 incline upwardly away from the roof structure 23. Moreover, the valleys 54 and ridges 56 are inclined downwardly to the left end, since the strips 52 are positioned on a peaked roof structure 23, the upright portions 58 and the inclined portions coact to define a fairly deep valley or trough 54 for conducting water and the like. It will be understood that the valley 54 will be deeper or shallower depending upon the pitch of the roof structure and will collect and conduct a greater or lesser quantity of water.

In order to provide a continuous valley 54 for the water falling on the roof on the right half of the roof section 301), the strips 52 are overlapped as shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, the right end of each strip 52 is located beneath the left end of the right adjacent strip 52. Accordingly, a water-tight seal arrangement is provided so that the water flows from one strip 52 to its left adjacent strip 52 without passing between the strips 52 and, hence, without wetting or soaking the roof structure 23. It will be appreciated that since the strips 52 may be transported in coiled or spool form, the spool may be taken to the job and may be cut into lengths exactly equal to the distance between the peak 32 and the lower edge 26. Hence, no vertical overlap is required.

In accordance with the present invention, when it is desired to direct the water to the right, for example, to a drain spout 50, the strips 52 are secured to the roof structure in an upside-down manner. The strips 52, laid on the left half of the roof section 30b, for example, are laid in this fashion. Actually, the upstanding portions 58 also face upwardly and the inclined portions 60 also incline upwardly away from the roof structure 23. In contrast to the strips 52 on the right half of the section 3%, the valleys 54 of the strips on the left half extend downwardly to the right, thereby to guide the water in the same direction. In a manner similar to the strips 52 on the right half of the section, the strips 52 are disposed in overlapping relation to provide a water seal. Specifically, the right edge of each strip 52 overlies the left edge of an adjacent strip, thereby permitting the water to drain from left to right without leaking into the roof structure 23. Thus, in building the roofing construction 24, a transition strip (not shown in FIG. 2) having a converging valley and groove arrangement, conformably shaped to the valley and groove arrangement of the strips 52, is secured to the roof structure along the center line 48. Next, the strips 52 are laid from the transition strip toward the ends of the roof sections, with the result that the above described overlapping of the strips 52 is obtained.

It will be appreciated that substantially all of the rain falling on the roofing construction 24 is directed to and is received by the drain spouts 50. However, it is readily apparent that the rain falling on the roof construction 24 above the dotted line 62, designated on the right portion of the roofsection 30b, is directed into the spout 50b, whereas the rain falling on the generally triangular portion located beneath the dotted line 62 is not guided directly into drain spout 50. In the interest of clarity, the groove and ridge construction is illustrated as having a somewhat greater angle with the lower edge 26 than is preferred in the commercial form, with the result that the triangular portion is illustrated as having a larger area than actually exists in the commercial form. Hence, in order to assure that the relatively small amount of water collected by the triangular portion does not drain directly off of the lower edge of the roof 26 but drains into the down spout 50, an upright beam 64, best seen in FIG. 10 is secured to the lower edge of the roof structure 23. The upper part of the beam 64 extends above the peaked portion of the roof 23 and supports the left end 68 of a metallic edging strip 66 which is deformed into a U-shaped cross section for nesting about the beam 64. The right end 70 of the edge strip 66 is suitably fastened to the pitched part of the roof structure 23. As

shown, the U-shaped left portion 68 and the fiat right portion 70 define a generally V-shaped valley 72 which accumulates water and prevents the water from draining over the lower edge 26. It will be appreciated that the lower edging strip 66 is not inclined towards or away from the upper end of the drain spout 50b but extends substantially horizontal. As seen in FIG. 2, an end-cap 74 is secured to the end of the edging strip of the roof section 30b, with the result that water is unable to drain over the gabled-roof section. Hence, since water tends to seek its own level, it drains into the drain spout 50b.

In construction, the drain spouts 50 are mounted in position prior to assembly of the roof construction. Specifically, the drain spouts 50 are supported from the walls 22 and the roofing structure 23 so that their upper portions are located slightly beneath the pitched portion of the roof structure 23. In building the roofing construction, certain preliminary steps must be taken prior to laying the strips 52. First, the edging strips 66 are suitably secured to the beam 64 and to the pitched portion of the roof structure 23. Second, end caps 74 are secured to the covers of the gabled end of the roof structure 23. Third, transition strips are secured to the roofing structure along the center lines 48.

After the above described preliminary steps are completed, the entire pitched portion of the roof structure 23 is covered by the strips 52. If the roofing construction is delivered to the field in spool form, strips 52 are cut to the proper length. Assuming that the right half of the roof section 30b is to be covered, one of the strips 52 is oriented in a right-side up position and is suitably secured to the roof structure so that its left edge overlies the right edge of the transition strip and its lower edge overlies the edging strip 66. Thereafter, another strip 52 is secured to the roofing structure 23 so that its left edge slightly overlies the right edge of the first strip 52, and its lower edge overlies the edging strip 66. Enough additional strips 52 are added to cover the right half of the section 30b. The left half of the section 30b is constructed in a generally similar manner, except that the first strip 52 is secured to the roofing structure in upside down relation so that its right edge overlies the transition strip and the edging strip 66. Another strip 52 is turned upside down and its right edge overlapped with the left edge of the previously laid strip 52. The same procedure is repeated for adjacent strips 52 until the left portion of the roofing section 30b is completed. Of course, to compensate for the valley 40, the lower ends of the adjacent strips 52 are suitably cut to provide an inclined, lower edge which abuts against the floor of the valley 40. It will be appreciated that the other roof sections 30a, 30c, 30d and 30e are fabricated in the same general way as the roof section 30b.

Although it might appear that. gravity directs water toward the valley 40, the construction of the strips 52 actually directs water away from the Valley 40. In this connection, a valley strip 70 having the shape illustrated in FIG. 11 is employed. As shown, the valley strip 70 has a V-shaped cross section including flanges suitably secured to the adjacent strips 52. In this manner, a watertight seal is provided but, if desired, suitable packing can be inserted into the groove constructions of the strips 52. It will be appreciated that gravity directs water away from the comers 44 and 46 and, to this end, inverted V-shaped strips (not illustrated) are appropriately secured to the strips 52 adjacent the corners 44 and 46.

Inasmuch as gravity directs water away from the peaks 32 and 42 the hip-roof edges 44 and 46, peak strips having an inverted V-cross section are suitably secured to the upper ends of the strips 52 and the roof structure 23. One of the peak strips is shown in FIG. 9 and is identified by reference numeral 73. As shown, the peak strips 73 include angulated flanges 75 and 76 which overlie the strips 52 and coact with the ridges 56 of the strips 52. Since the ridges 56 and grooves 54 are inclined, suitable packing 78 is inserted in the grooves 54 beneath the flanges 75 and 76 to provide a weathertight seal.

By using the above-described roofing construction 24, the water falling on the construction is collected in the valleys 54 and is guided to the down spouts 50a, b, c, d and e via the transition strips or the edging strips 66. Specifically, during a rainstorm or the like, the valleys 54 collect and transport the water falling on the roof downwardly toward the transition strips. Depending upon the intensity of the rainstorm, the valleys 54 are filled, as seen in FIG. 5, in different amounts. Of course, if torrential rains are customary, the height of the upstanding portions 58 can be increased to accommodate the large quantity and flow of water.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the roofing construction 24 comprises as best seen in FIG. 6, a plurality of shingles 80 of generally square configuration made from thin sheet metal, for example, aluminum. The shingles 80 have a valley and ridge construction identical to that of the strips 52 and, of course, perform the same function as the strips 52 of directing water either downwardly to the left or to the right depending upon whether the shingle 30 is used in a right-side-up or upside-down manner. However, since each shingle 80 has a limited height, the lower edge of each shingle 80 overlaps the upper edge of a lower adjacent shingle, thereby providing a watertight seal. Of course, similar to the strip 52, the longitudinal edges of the shingles are overlapped depending upon whether the water is to be directed to the left or to the right.

Another embodiment of the roofing construction 24 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7, and, specifically, comprises an alternative way of assembling the shingles 80. Instead of assembling the shingles 80 in aligned rows, as shown in FIG. 6, the shingles 80 are assembled in staggered rows, as shown in FIG. 7. In either event, the horizontal edges of the shingles are overlapped as well as the vertical edges. Irrespective of whether the shingles 80 are assembled as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the resulting roofing construction performs the same function as the strip form of the roofing construction 24.

Although the strips 52 and shingles 80 have been de scribed as having the specific valley-and-ridge constructron shown in FIG. 4, it should be appreciated that the roofing construction can have other configurations and/or other types of cross sections. For example, any of the cross sections illustrated in FIG. 8 would adequately collect and guide the water towards the down spouts 50, as descrlbed above. FIG. 12 illustrates a design of the roofing construction of the present invention and an integr r r drain spout 150. The roofing construction 124 1s unlike the roofing construction 24 in that the water is directed to a corner instead of a point intermediate a pair of spaced corners. The drain spout 150, as shown, is recessed into the corner of the roof structure 123 and the roofing construction 124 itself and functions to collect water from the roofing construction 124 similar to the drain spout 50. Similar to the above-described embodiments, lower trim strips 166 are employed to direct water into the drain spout 150. In any event, since the drain spout is recessed within the roof structure, a streamlined, smart, and modern appearance is provided.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the roofing construction of the present invention functions to direct water to spaced points at the lower edge of the roof structure, the points being located either between the corners or at the corners.

While the embodiments described herein are at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. What is desired to be 7 claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sloping roof comprising a roof covering element made from sheetmaterial of generally polygonal configuration having a relatively thin cross-section of uniform thickness with a pattern of corrugations formed therein, the pattern consisting of a plurality of spaced, generally parallel upwardly directed portions extending throughout said roof covering element and being substantially normal to the median plane thereof, each of said upwardly directed portions being integrally connected at its upper end to a reversely extending portion continuous 1y downwardly inclined relative to the median plane of said aforementioned element to define elongated ridge areas in the vicinity of the juncture of said upwardly directed and reversely extending portions, each of said downwardly inclined, reversely extending portions directed towards and being integrally joined to the lower end of one of said upwardly directed portions next below to define elongated trough areas of substantial capacity therebetween, the ridge and trough areas formed by said upwardly directed and reversely extending portions being directed downwardly on said sloping roof at an included angle of less than 45 to a generally horizontally extending bottom edge thereof to enable said trough areas to readily receive and carry water to the lower ends of said trough areas at the bottom edge of saidsloping roof.

2. A sloping roof according to claiml wherein said roof covering element includes a plurality of roofing sections each having a pattern therein of the aforementioned type and being fastened to each other with the trough and ridge areas thereof in alignment with each other.

3. A sloping roof according to claim 1 and including means for collecting Water issuing from a predetermined number of trough areas at the bottom edge of said sloping roof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,297 12/82 Kozer 8 370,659 9/87 Sagendorph 50236 X 633,984 10/99 Blocher 50-8 857,601 6/07 Cooper 508 X 1,362,755 12/20 Statler 5068 X 2,021,929 11/35 Voight 50236 X 2,370,803 3/45 Kronenbitter 50236 2,923,386 2/60 Harry 50236 X EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SLOPING ROOF COMPRISING A ROOF COVERING ELEMENT MADE FROM SHEET MATERIAL OF GENERALLY POLYGONAL CONFIGURATION HAVING A RELATIVELY THIN CROSS-SECTION OF UNIFORM THICKNESS WITH A PATTERN OF CORROUGATIONS FORMED THEREIN, THE PATTERN CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF SPACED, GENERALLY PARALLEL UPWARDLY DIRECTED PORTIONS EXTENDING THROUGHOUT SAID ROOF COVERING ELEMENT AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE MEDIAN PLANE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID UPWARDLY DIRECTED PORTIONS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO A REVERSELY EXTENDING PORTION CONTINUOUSLY DOWNWARDLY INCLINED RELATIVE TO THE MEDIAN PLANE OF SAID AFOREMENTIONED ELEMENT TO DFINE ELONGATED RIDGE AREAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE JUNCTURE OF SAID UPWARDLY DIRECTED AND REVERSELY EXTENDING PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID DOWNWARDLY INCLINED, REVERSELY EXTENDING PORTIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS AND BEING INTEGRALLY JOINED TO THE LOWER END OF ONE OF SAID UPWARDLY DIRECTED PORTIONS NEXT BELOW TO DEFINE ELONGATED TROUGH AREAS OF SUBSTANTIAL CAPACITY THEREBETWEEN, THE RIDGE AND TROUGH AREAS FORMED BY SAID UPWARDLY DIRECTED AND REVERSELY EXTENDING PORTIONS BEING DIRECTED DOWNWARDLY ON SAID SLOPING ROOF AT AN INCLUDED ANGLE OF LESS THAN 45* TO A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BOTTOM EDGE THEREOF TO ENABLE SAID TROUGH AREAS TO READILY RECEIVE AND CARRY WATER TO THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID TROUGH AREAS AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID SLOPING ROOF. 